Cody Bellinger’s RBI single in the ninth inning proved to be the difference as the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers won a deciding Game 5 to advance to the NLCS. They will once again face the Atlanta Braves, the team they beat last year to advance to the World Series.
Will they need seven games to beat the Braves again in 2021?
Los Angeles Dodgers NLCS Betting Preview
Odds to Win NLCS: -225
It’s no surprise the Dodgers are favored to win this series. They were favored to repeat as World Series champions at the start of the 2021 season and at the end of regular season despite finishing second to San Francisco in the NL West.
The Dodgers are a top 10 offense that poses problems for any pitcher. Los Angeles finished fifth in the majors in scoring averaging 5.07 runs per game. In their last ten games, the Dodgers won eight. In six of those wins, they scored at least seven runs.
The one negative for the Dodgers is that Max Muncy will probably not play in this series. Muncy led the Dodgers with 36 home runs and 94 RBIs, but he was injured in LA’s final regular season game. There is a chance he could return, but the Dodgers are planning on playing without him.
The pitching staff is one of if not the best in baseball and they are missing two Cy Young winners. Max Scherzer pitched the ninth inning of Game 5 of the NLDS, so he won’t start Game 1. That start could go to Tony Gonsolin who was passed over in Game 4. The Dodgers then have Walker Buehler, 20-game winner Julio Urias, and Scherzer.
The bullpen is as good as Kenley Jansen. Since August 5, he has appeared in 27 games and has a 0.65 ERA with 35 strikeouts. The Dodgers are talented at the plate, on the mound, they are experienced, and the lineup is deep.
Atlanta Braves NLCS Betting Preview
Odds to Win NLCS: +186
After losing a potential MVP in Ronald Acuna Jr., the Braves appeared to be done for the season. Then, reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman and rising star Austin Riley took over. The Braves finished just three spots behind the Dodgers in scoring averaging 4.86 runs per game during the regular season.
The Braves finished tied for second in home runs and had three players with 30 or more. Riley led the team with 33, Freeman had 31, and 2B Ozzie Albies hit 30. Shortstop Dansby Swanson added 27 homers.
In Atlanta’s NLDS win over Milwaukee, it was Riley who went 5-for-15 with a homer. Freeman was 4-for- 13 with a huge Game 4 home run and Joc Pederson only went to the plate seven times but hit two homers.
Charlie Morton pitched on short rest to win Game 4 of the NLDS, so Max Fried will most likely start Game 1 of the NLCS. After that, the Braves will go with Ian Anderson and Morton though the order is unknown. Huascar Ynoa should figure into the mix somehow.
The Braves have won 11 of their last 13 games and seven of their last eight at home.
2021 MLB NLCS Series Prediction
As much as everyone loves underdogs, there is just no scenario where the Braves pull the upset. The Dodgers have the better hitting lineup, the better starting pitching, and the better bullpen.
The Dodgers won this year’s season series winning four games to the Braves’ two. LA will do the same in this series.
PREDICTION: DODGERS (-225)
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